Meet A Journal Keeper: Lynn Fisher

I start most of my days with writing. When I was young I made brief attempts at keeping a journal, starting here, and ending there. I always thought if I found just the right journal…or just the right pen, it would all gel and I would be writer. At the time I never thought of combining my love for art with my love of writing in one journal, (I wrote entirely in spiral notebooks) but once I did, and abandoned the idea of writing on straight lines, it all came alive for me. Journaling has become a habit, one journal at a time. Not journaling now, is just NOT possible; I feel incomplete, as if I went to work without combing my hair.

Our personal stories are worth recording. As a writer and an artist, I can find no better way to begin than just beginning…put pen to the paper and start, and once I read Natalie Goldberg’s, Writing Down the Bones, I felt completely validated. I write every thought that I have, completely emptying my brain, letting it flood down my arms, through my fingers and pen. If I journal before beginning another writing task, I find that I have an easier time getting down the information. It’s as if I moved a giant road block that stands between me and the blank page.

I’ve used my journal to not only record my day, but to work on a novel, write poetry, or work out some issues with an article I’m writing…sometimes to write the entire article.

My journal is my cheerleader, my Mom, and the tiny, and the otherwise unnamed voices in my head. Also, I’ve developed a great fondness for “found poetry.” Found Poetry is poetry written with any group of words at hand; a single page from a magazine, or combination of two or three pages. I set my own “rules” and very often limit myself (for best results in the least amount of time) to a single ad, mixing up only the words found there, and gluing them down on a painted background, letting the words be what they want to be.

I have now amassed what most people would regard as a fire hazard of journals in a variety of sizes, shapes, handmade, or store bought. All reflect the joy and heartache of the examined life in a way that most precisely mirrors what and who I am as a person right now.



Lynn Fisher

http://onandoffthepage.blogspot.com

Be The Best You

I'm working on a new, super-exciting journaling project, and for that, I could really use your help. I'm trying to gauge what would my readers find most useful. If the below concept appeals to you and it's something that might be of use to you, I would really appreciate it if you could participate in a little questionnaire for me. Either over skype, or by email would be great. It should take no more than 20 minutes.

Thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart!! And even if you don't want to participate, thank you for being my reader :-) I appreciate you being here.

If you would like to participate, please send me an email at journaladdict [at] hotmail [dot] co.uk

• It's about helping you to find the strength to be who you are, regardless of what the world (or your mom, or spouse, or children)want you to be.
• It's about learning to have the courage to live by your own rules, whether or not it conforms with what you "should" do.
• It's about being the best you can be, and changing your world one page at a time.
All through Journaling. Whether you keep a journal and want to optimise it, or if you have never kept a journal (or never managed to make it regular), as long as you have the longing to be you, this is for you.

Journal Writing Prompt 39 - Planning for Dreams

Dreams and Planning - they don't really go together, do they? Dreaming is such a spontaneous, no restrictions thing, and planning is all about order and boundaries. But they in fact go together perfectly. First you dream, and then you plan to make those dreams come true.

That's where your journal can help you. Record your dreams. Unabashedly. Freely. Be outrageous. Be true to yourself. Dream.

Then plan.

Decide. Brainstorm. How exactly are you going to make those dreams come true? Go...because the world is yours to take!

Big Ideas. Your Feedback Requested.

It's strange, writing this post. I started this blog to share my love of journaling, to post whatever I wanted about my journals. This was a hobby, a respite from my more "serious" writer blog. I never thought so many people would read it, let alone become regular readers. But you guys embraced this blog, participated with your insights and comments, and made me realise that I am not the only journal keeper out there. 

It is such a private endeavour, keeping journals. Sharing parts of it with you has been rewarding and interesting. But it's one thing to share views on journaling, and quite another to open up dreams and wishes. But you all have been with me on this blog journey, and you are the people I want to speak to about what I am considering. 

I have often thought of writing a book about journaling. I even have outlines, rough drafts. But that, like this blog, was another one of my "fun" projects. A hobby. This blog has gotten far more comments and page views than my writer blog, which has more posts and more followers. Not just comments, but I actually have conversations with people. Some of you, I have gotten to know so well that I would consider you my friends. But what I kept getting back, especially through people who emailed me privately, is that many of these entries helped people. It surprised me, because after all, this was just my hobby. Something I was sharing, because I loved it. But as I got more and more comments and questions, I began to wonder what else I can do to not just help people on their journey to self-awareness and self-development, but to encourage them to journal. How can I show other people that journaling is far more rewarding than you could ever know until you try it? How could I explain to those who haven't been able to keep a journal for more than a week what rewards await them? 

This has been going on for over a year in my head. Because this was after all a hobby. 

I started this blog for me. For anything and everything regarding journaling that I wanted to speak about. That's why there has never been a fixed schedule. There has never been a fixed format. Because this was all about me. 

Now, I want to make it about you. The readers. The people who love journaling and find it helpful. The people who know what a journal is, but haven't gotten very far. The people who think journal is a diary with secret locks that little girls keep. I don't know what exactly I am going to do, because I am still brainstorming possibilities. But what I do know is that I am going to re-launch this blog, one that reflects the change that this blog now caters to my readers. I want to get on and finish that journaling book. Instead of a hobby, I want to make journaling what it actually is - my passion, and my invitation to others, to come and join. 

I hope you will join me there. 

If you have suggestions for a new brand name that reflects this new purpose, I would love to have your input. 

The Master In the Art of Living

Jonathan Mead, of Illuminated Mind shared this in his Trailblazer Group. I am sharing this with you, because if even a half of world's population can live like this, our world would be far better for it.

The master in the art of living
draws no sharp distinction between
his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body,
his work and his play,
his education and his recreation.

He hardly knows which.

He simply pursues his vision of excellence
through whatever he is doing
and leaves others to determine
whether he is working or playing.

To himself, he is always doing both.

- James A. Michener

Which of these three options is MOST important to you?

My fellow journal keepers and blog readers, 

Which of the following three things are MOST important to you? They are all related, but if you were to focus on just one thing, right now, which would it be?

1. Self Discovery
2. Personal Development
3. Your Life's Purpose (Passion)

Feedback most appreciated. 

Journal Writing Prompt 38 - Life On Your Terms

Today, a very simple but very profound question. Are you living your life on your terms? I am not at this moment, but I am conscious of it, and trying to move towards living my life on my terms.

What does that even mean?

It may mean different thing to different people. To me, first and foremost it means being in-charge of my own time. To work for things I believe in. To do things that nourish my soul. I don't think that's a lot to ask. 

Some people might consider it selfish. You especially hear that from "traditionalists" who focus on what one "should" do rather than what one "wants" to do. But think about it - if you do things you love, you are more likely to do it well. You are more likely to contribute something significant to the world. That's a WIN - WIN. 

So what do you think? Are you living your life on your terms? If not, what are you going to do about it?